US College Signings 2017 (and general college tennis chat)

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

RE: US College Signings 2017 (and general college tennis chat)

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Big West Conference Championships

Women: (Played at Indian Wells Tennis Garden!!)

QF

UC Santa Barbara bt Cal Poly 4-0

4. Stephanie Yamada (Santa Barbara)led Molly Reed (Cal Poly) 6-1, 5-2 susp

Dubs

1. Palina Dubavets / Stefani Stojic (Santa Barbara) bt Seriana Saltzen / Molly Reed (Cal Poluy) 6-2

Long Beach State bt UC Davis 4-0

6. Laura Eales (Long Beach St) led Isabella Von Ebbe (UC Davis) 7-6(3), 0-3 susp

Dubs

2. Lena Pacholski / Laura Eales (Long Beach St) bt Kiristina Breisacher / Lani-Rae Green (UC Davis) 6-4

SF

UC Santa Barbarabt Long Beach State 4-1

6. Stephanie Yamada (Santa Barbara) led Laura Eales (Long Beach St) 6-4, 2-6, 5-4 susp

Dubs

2. Lena Pacholski / Laura Eales (Long Beach St) bt Amanda Atansson / Melissa Baker (Santa Barbara) 6-3

Whilst sorry Laura won't finish her career at the NCAAs, given what has been posted earlier on here about the Long Beach coach, I am pleased to see that all her chopping and changing of players has not earned her another conference title.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Horizon League Conference Championships

Men:

QF

Cleveland State by Wisconsin-Green Bay 4-3

4. Miles McDowall (Wisconsin-GB) bt Mirko Radosevic (Cleveland St) 6-2, 6-3

5. Charlie Ridout (Wisconsin-GB) bt Kevin Goth (Cleveland St) 6-4, 6-4

Dubs

1. Mirko Radosevic / Benjamin Slade (Cleveland St) led Florian Kraenzler / Miles McDowall (Wisconsin-GB) 5-2 susp

3. Charlie Ridout / Ivan Radomirovic (Wisconsin-GB) bt Andre Mick / Nico Mostardi (Cleveland St) 6-2

Youngstown State bt Northern Kentucky 4-0

5. Luke Purser (Youngstown St) led Andrew Niehaus (N Kentucky) 7-5, 1-1 susp

Dubs

3. Nick Lang / Blaine Carr (N Kentucky) led Yossi Dahan / Luke Purser (Youngstown St) 5-4 susp

SF

Valparaiso bt Youngstown State 4-3

5. Kyle Dunn (Valparaiso) bt Luke Purser (Youngstown St) 7-6, 6-3

Dubs

3. Kyle Dunn / Garrett Gardner (Valparaiso) bt Yossi Dahan / Luke Purser (Youngstown St) 6-3

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Metro Atlantic Conference Championships

Women:

SF

Siena College bt Marist 4-2

1. Ali Garrity (Siena C) bt Chloe Lant (Marist) 6-3, 6-2

Dubs

2. Chloe Lant / Amy Galloway (Marist) b Ivana Boberic / Natalie Weaver (Siena C) 7-5

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships

Men:

QF

Florida A&M bt Hampton 4-1

5. Frederico Nani (Florida A&M) bt Peter Odegbami (Hampton ) 7-5, 6-3

6. Luke Thompson (Hampton) led Illya Skoromny (Florida A&M) 7-6, 4-4 susp

Dubs

3. Peter Odegbami / Luke Thompson (Hampton) led Frederico Nani / Jalen Evans (Florida A&M) 5-2 susp

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Missouri Valley Conference Championships

Women:

QF

Southern Illinois bt Missouri State 4-0

3. Athena Chrysanthou (S Illinois) bt Anelisse Torrico (Missouri St) 6-3, 6-3

Dubs

3. Polina Dozortseva / Athena Chrysanthou (S Illinois) led Alye Darter / Alexia Mayer (Missouri St) 5-3

Evansville bt Drake 4-2

3. Joely Lomas (Drake) bt Nicoli Pereira (Evansville) 6-1, 7-5

Dubs

2. Summer Brills / Joely Lomas (Drake) bt Diana Tkachenko / Nicoli Pereira (Evansville) 7-6

SF

Southern Illinois bt Bradley 4-1

3. Natalia Barbery (Bradley) bt Athena Chrysanthou (S Illinois) 6-1, 6-0

Dubs

3. Polina Dozortseva / Athena Chrysanthou (S Illinois) led Alexa Brandt /Malini Wijesinghe (Bradley) 6-5 susp

F

#49 Wichita State bt Southern Illinois 4-0

3. Fatima Bizhukova (Wichita St) bt Athena Chrysanthou (S Illinois) 6-0, 6-1

Dubs

3. Polina Dozorseva / Athena Chrysanthou (S Illinois) led Marta Belluca / Giulia Guidetti (Wichita) 5-2 susp

Pity Athena's team could not go one match better as it is the last year that women's tennis is a varsity sport at that university. They are honouring scholarships but no idea if Athena will take that up and just finish her degree or whether she will try and transfer so she can play tennis as well.

Men:

SF

Drake bt Illinois State 4-0

1. Uhr Krajnc Domiter (Illinois St) led Vinny Gillespie (Drake) 6-4, 1-4 susp

2. Ben Stride (Drake) v Dylan Steffens (Illinois St) 6-0, 0-6, 4-4 susp

4. Calum MacGeoch (Drake) bt Matias Chomali (Illinois St) 6-4, 6-2

5. Tom Hands (Drake) bt Christoffer Greve (Illinois St) 6-2, 6-2

6. Ben Clark (Drake) bt Egehan Sertkaya (Illinois St) 6-3, 6-0

Dubs

1. Uhr Krajnc Domiter / Matias Chomali (Illinois St) led Bayo Phillips / Barnaby Thorold (Drake) 5-4 susp

2. Vinny Gillespie / Tom Hands (Drake) bt Andreas Boers / Egehan Sertkaya (Illinois St) 7-5

3. Ben Stride / Ben Wood (Drake) bt Dylan Steffens / Christoffer Greve (Illinois St) 7-5

F

Drake bt Southern Illinois 4-0

1. Vinny Gillespie led Piotr Baranski (S Illinois) 7-6, 4-4 susp

2. Wilder Pimentel (S Illinois) led Ben Stride (Drake) 6-3, 2-6, 2-0 susp

4. Calum MacGeoch (Drake) bt Alex Pozo (S Illinois) 6-4, 6-3

5. Tom Hands (Drake) bt Daniel Martinez (S Illinois) 6-1, 6-0

6. Ben Clark (Drake) bt Param Pun (S Illinois) 6-4, 6-0

Dubs

1. Alex Pozo / Piotr Baranski (S Illinois) bt Bayo Phillips / Barnaby Thorold (Drake) 6-1

2. Vinny Gillespie / Tom Hands (Drake) bt Michal Kianicka / Daniel Martinez (S Illinois) 6-2

3. Ben Stride / Ben Wood (Drake) bt Wilder Pimentel / Param Pun (S Illinois) 6-3

So the men's team from Drake with its numerous Brits books its place at the NCAAs by winning the last ever Men's Missouri Valley Conference Championships - men's tennis is being dropped as a conference sport next season. Drake's men's tennis team are going to be allowed to compete in the Mountain West conference moving forward.

-- Edited by The Optimist on Wednesday 3rd of May 2017 08:01:38 AM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Nathan Malik has had a pretty decent college career getting to play no.1 for Michigan #16 in the Big 10 is quite an achievement and in the Big 10 tournament they lost in the final to Ohio State #2 after squeezing past Illinois with Torpegaard (#2) playing as their first seed he, like Cam is a junior, I wonder if he will drop out and go pro, maybe not as he is also an academic all American so may want to play another year and graduate.

Also good to see Ellise and Zoe at Iowa right at the top of the order getting regularly tested.

I share "O"s sentiments about Long Beach state something to be said for recruiting players with a view to developing them as opposed to cutting them, surely that is what coaching is all about and in that context a few lean years are fine. At least Laura and Molly Reed will be able to say she played at Indian Wells!

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Jathan Malik tried to go pro straight away (family able to fund) but like many on the men's side didn't really set the world alight as a teenager. Won matches but never really got up a head of steam - maybe just not physically strong enough at that stage. Younger brother Jamie went to Rice and about a year later Jathan popped up on the Michigan roster. Not sure how he's eligible but he joined mid-year and had to sit on the bench until the following season.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Mountain West Conference Championships

Women:

R16

Utah State bt San Diego State 4-2

5. Sabrina Demerath (Utah St) bt Mia Smith (San Diego St) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Dubs

2. Mia Smith / Kennedy Davis (San Diego St) bt Sabrina Demerath / Nina Guensler (Utah St) 7-6

New Mexico bt Boise State 4-0

6. Cassie Chung (New Mexico) bt Kirsty Venter (Boise St) 6-0, 6-3

Dubs

2. Emily Oliver / Diana Wong (New Mexico) bt Hanna Kantenwein / Kirsty Venter (Boise St) 6-3

QF

Air Force bt Fresno State 4-3

2. TJ Fumigalli (Air Force) bt Emma Wilson (Fresno St) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

6. Georgia Lawson (Fresno St) bt Jocelle Rudico (Air Force) 6-0, 6-1

Dubs

1. Georgia Lawson / Emma Wilson (Fresno St) bt TJ Fumigalli / Elizabeth Barnickel (Air Force) 6-3

3. Katerina Stloukalova / Olivia Noble (Fresno) bt Lily Forlini / Nadeem Lieberman (Air Force) 6-4

Men:

QF

Nevada-Las Vegas bt Nevada 4-0

6. Charlie Croxford (Nevada-LV) led Peter O'Donovan (Nevada) 6-3, 5-3 susp

Dubs

3. Richard Solberg / Alexandr Cozbinov (Nevada-LV) bt Augustin Delahodde / Peter O'Donovan (Nevada) 6-3

Fresno State bt Air Force 4-0

2. Euan McIntosh (Fresno St) bt Lucas Fumigalli (Air Force) 6-1, 6-2

Dubs

1. Euan McIntosh / Patrik Pech (Fresno St) bt Tadhg Collins / Max Olsen (Air Force) 6-3

3. Youssef Hassan / Zdenek Derkas (Fresno St) led Isaac PErez / Luke Sanderson (Air Force) 5-3 susp

San Diego State bt New Mexico 4-2

2. Ricky Hernandez-Tong led Milen Iamakiev (San Diego St) 3-6, 6-3, 4-3 susp

3. Dominic West (New Mexico) bt Sander Andersen (San Diego St) 6-2, 6-2

5. Joel Popov (San Diego St) bt Lawrence Perrin (New Mexico) 6-1, 6-2

Dubs

1. Bart Van Leijsen / Dominic West (New Mexico) bt Milen Iamakiev (San Diego St) 6-1

2. Sander Andersen / Nick Mitchell (San Diego St) led Ricky Hernandez-Tong / Lawrence Perrin (New Mexico) 4-3 susp

SF

Nevada-Las Vegas bt Fresno State 4-3

2. Alexandr Cozbinov (Nevada-LV) bt Euan McIntosh (Fresno St) 7-6(6), 6-1

6. Charlie Croxford (Nevada-LV) bt Yousssef Hassan (Fresno) 7-5, 7-5

Dubs

1. Jakob Amilon / Evaldo Neto (Nevada-LV) bt Euan McIntosh / Patrik Pech (Fresno St) 6-2

3. Youssef Hassan / Zdenek Derkas (Fresno St) bt Richard Solberg / Alexandr Cozbinov (Nevada-LV) 7-5

F

Utah State bt Nevada-Las Vegas 4-0

6. Jonas Maier (Utah St) bt Charlie Croxford (Nevada-LV) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

the addict · Tennis legend

Jathan was playing at Sutton last August when I was there - beat Joe Salisbury in 3 sets. But I only saw a few games, so difficult to judge - it was pretty even from what I remember.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Be interesting to see if he gives it another go. Hard to tell if he's gone to college to give himself time to mature or if he's had enough of trying to be a professional.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Southeast Conference Championships

Women:

R16

#20 Mississippi State bt #22 Tennessee 4-1

Dubs

2. Gabby Schuck / Sadie Hammond (Tennessee) bt Jennifer Brown / Khrystyna Vozniak (Mississippi St) 6-3

#12 Auburn bt #19 Arkansas 4-3

4. Giulia Pairone (Arkansas) bt Georgie Axon (Auburn) 6-1, 6-3

6. Alannah Griffin (Auburn) bt Sasha Shkorupeieva (Arkansas) 6-4, 6-1

Dubs

2. Andie Dikosavljevic / Alannah Griffin (Auburn) bt Mia Jurasic / Ana Oparenovic (Arkansas) 7-6(5)

3. #46 Georgie Axon / Caroline Turner (Auburn) bt Shannon Hudson / Natsuho Arakawa (Arkansas) 7-5

QF

#1 Florida bt #20 Mississippi State 4-2

6. #75 Spencer Liang (Florida) bt Jennifer Brown (Mississippi St) 7-05, 6-2

Dubs

2. #20 Kourtney Keegan / Brooke Austin (Florida) bt Khrystyna Vozniak / Jennifer Brown (Mississippi St) 6-2

#12 Auburn bt #4 Georgia 4-1

4. Georgie Axon (Auburn) bt #63 Caroline Brinson (Georgia) 6-4, 6-3

6. Alannah Griffin (Auburn) bt Mariana Gould (Georgia) 7-5, 6-0

Dubs

2. #34 Elena Christofi / Kennedy Shaffer (Georgia) bt Andie Dikosavljevic / Alannah Griffin (Auburn) 6-2

3. #46 Georgie Axon / Caroline Turner (Auburn) bt Mariana Gould / Marta Gonzalez (Georgia) 6-1

#2 Vanderbilt bt #21 Louisiana State 4-2

5. Georgina Sellyn (Vanderbilt) led Becca Weissman (Louisiana St) 6-4, 5-7, 5-4 susp

Dubs

1. #3 Astra Sharma / Emily Smith (Vanderbilt) bt #23 Joana Valle Costa / Ryann Foster (Louisiana St) 6-3

#11 South Carolina bt ¢19 Kentucky 4-3

6. Brigit Folland (S Carolina) bt Morgan Chumney (Kentucky) 7-5, 6-2

Dubs

2. Brigit Folland / Ingrid Martins (S Carolina) bt #87 Morgan Chumney / Akvile Parazinskaite (Kentucky) 7-5

SF

#1 Florida bt #12 Auburn 4-2

4. Georgie Axon (Auburn) bt Brooke Austin (Florida) 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5

6. #44 Kourtney Keegan (Florida) led Alannah Griffin (Auburn) 6-3, 5-1 susp

Dubs

2. #20 Kourtney Keegan / Brooke Austin (Florida) bt Andie Dikosavljevic / Alannah Griffin (Auburn) 6-2

3. #42 Josie Kuhlman / Belinda Wool**** (Florida) bt #46 Caroline Turner / Georgie Axon (Auburn) 6-3

#2 Vanderbilt bt #11 South Carolina 4-1

5. Georgina Sellyn (Vanderbilt) v Hadley Berg (S Carolina) 6-3, 6-7(7), 2-2 susp

6. #69 Fernanda Contreras (Vanderbilt) led Brigit Folland (S Carolina) 4-1 susp

Dubs

1. #3 Emily Smith / Astra Sharma (Vanderbilt) bt #29 Paige Cline / Hadley Berg (S Carolina) 6-4

2. Emma Kurtz / Sydney Campbell (Vanderbilt) bt Brigit Folland / Ingrid Martins (S Carolina) 7-6(3)

F

#2 Vanderbilt bt #1 Florida 4-3

5. #44 Kourtney Keegan (Florida) bt Georgina Sellyn (Vanderbilt) 6-3, 6-2

Dubs

1. #17 Anna Danilina / Ingrid Neel (Florida) bt #3 Emily Smith / Astra Sharma (Vanderbilt) 6-2

Men:

Mississippi State bt South Carolina 4-1

6. Paul Jubb (S Carolina) led Trevor Foshey (Mississippi St) 6-7(8), 6-1, 3-2 susp

So Emily and Georgina head off to the NCAAs (although they certainly would have got in anyway as one of the highest ranked teams not to win their conference) and Vanderbilt must be in with a good shout of the title.

paulisi · Tennis legend

The Optimist wrote:
Jathan Malik tried to go pro straight away (family able to fund) but like many on the men's side didn't really set the world alight as a teenager. Won matches but never really got up a head of steam - maybe just not physically strong enough at that stage. Younger brother Jamie went to Rice and about a year later Jathan popped up on the Michigan roster. Not sure how he's eligible but he joined mid-year and had to sit on the bench until the following season.

I always used to have a chat to Jathan when he played the ITFs in the NW.

Decent player, with lots of potential, but struggled to transition to the main tour. As mentioned, funding wasn't an issue, but I think he felt a little guilty with 2 tennis players in the family having to be funded. Very surprised that he went to Uni a year late.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Vandy have definitely thrown the gauntlet down there beating Florida. Pretty deep team, it will be interesting to see where Emily Appleton plays in the order next year. Emily Smith only gets to play doubles and Georgina Sellyn is down at 5 (but hey Florida are so deep that their no 5 is 44 nationally both would match up against Emily Arbuthnot should they draw Stanford).

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Georgina S used to play in the top 2 at Vandy but had to red shirt for a year after major injury (either damaged her ankle requiring surgery then fell and damaged her wrist during rehab or vice versa - two major surgeries in a year anyway) and has not played higher than 4 since her return. As for Emily Smith she is an outstanding doubles player but is no mug in singles either so I am surprised to see she doesn't get a slot in the line-up.